She read out a joint report from specialists for the coroner, Ministry of Defence and victims’ families based on an examination of injuries caused to the victims.

She said: “It was military-produced ammunition.

“Paramilitary groups at that time were able, by whatever means, to get their hands on weapons and ammunition which was military-sourced.

“There is a possibility that they may also have had some of this type of ammunition in their possession.”

The senior scientific officer said she had sought and received the information from police intelligence and had not checked its veracity.

“We just wanted to cover all options as to why these guns may have been in Northern Ireland at the time.”

Claims loyalists may have been involved in the killings have been questioned during earlier hearings of the inquest (Ballymurphy Massacre Committee/PA)

Claims loyalists may have been involved in the killings have been questioned during earlier hearings of the inquest.

Ms Polland was challenged by a barrister for the deceased, Fiona Doherty, as to why she had sought the information.

The victims were unlikely to have been shot from close range, her evidence given to the inquest also showed.

Joan Connolly, aged 44 and a mother-of-eight, was shot on waste ground near the Henry Taggart Hall Army base.

The view from the base may have been impeded by fences, the witness told the court.

Daniel Teggart, Noel Phillips and Joseph Murphy were also killed there amid disturbances following the introduction of internment without charge.

At today’s #Seanad Order of Business I again raised the ongoing #Ballymurphy Inquest, the level of chilling info brought to light, the re-traumatisation of families & the abject failure of many media outlets to even tell their story.Encouraged senators to use their platform. pic.twitter.com/EcyeARGNGZ

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